We Mourn

1997-1998 Changes at the Helm

In November of 1997 Julia Strong-Yoho retired for health reasons. We could see it coming but it was still a shock as she had been our guide and supporter for so long. The assistant principal Michael Guevara became our principal. Susan Fivelstad, the Reading Specialist, became our Assistant Principal for the rest of the year. Susan was the district Team Leader of the Cal State Multiple Subject Program. The Multiple Subject Program helped to train 30 student teachers a year under the direction of Dr. Vickie Mui.

Mike was very different from Julia. Although they had one thing in common, both could be very charming. Julia had many years as a teacher and educator before becoming a principal. She had been in the district and worked with Mr. Emanuele so long she knew where all the bodies were buried, so to speak. Mike had about two years as a teacher before becoming an administrator, but he was very well liked by the assistant superintendent Ruth McKenna. Julia was very independent, confident, and never played favorites among the staff. She liked to have time to think about her decisions before she made them. Mike made quick decisions, was a fiery guy, and was quick to make friends with some of the staff. He also was a great party giver and made incredible salsa. It was an adjustment for us. The follow year Debbie Knoth became our assistant principal and helped guide us though the changes.

Debbie and I were roommates at a Road Ahead conference. I asked her why she wanted to be a principal. She said, "I want to make a difference for kids. As a teacher, I can only make a difference for 30 kids. As a principal, I can make a difference for hundreds of kids." In 1999 she became the principal of Searles Elementary School.

Important changes were also made at the district office. In 1998 Guy Emanuele retired as superintendent and named Ruth Ann McKenna as his successor. The school board agreed with his choice. She previously left New Haven School district for a three-year stint as chief deputy superintendent with the California Department of Education under the then Superintendent of Public Instruction, Delaine Eastin. Ms. McKenna spent 13 years with New Haven as a high school teacher and associate superintendent who engineered the success of Marching On, a musical sensation produced by the music teachers in New Haven.

Ruth Ann McKenna

1976: Guy Emanuele appointed superintendent

The New Haven Unified School district was only 11 years old when in 1966 Guy Emanuele joined the New Haven Unified school district. He served as a counselor and as an administrator. In 1976 Guy Emanuele was appointed superintendent. Using the arts, athletic programs, and extracurricular activities, he focused on keeping students engaged, so they would complete their academic training. During his 22 years in New Haven he created an alternative high school and helped to pass three bonds including one for technology. Mr. Emanuele had a top down leadership style. He retired in 1998. During that year he was named California State Superintendent of the Year. (Tribute to Guy Emanuele. Honorable Fortney Pete Stark. Congressional Record of the California House of Representatives. April 21, 2009.)

A personal memory of Mr. Emanuele: by Sharon Chambers, media specialist/librarian from 1991-2009.In 1991 as a new teacher, I along with about 30 other new teachers was introduced to Guy Emanuele and New Haven Unified School district. After a morning new teacher meeting, we all boarded a district school bus with with Mr. Emanuele the long time superintendent. He rode around on the school bus with us as new teachers and explained the characteristics of each school and the students it served. It was obvious he loved these schools. I could not believe the superintendent was riding the bus with us. I had been in education a long time, but had never seen anything like this.

On the first day of required attendance at your school all the staff was asked to go to James Logan High School in the gym for a meeting of all the teachers in the district. Most of our staff were taken on a school bus, but some drove. We sat in the stands as Mr. Emanuele gave us his philosophy of education asking us to take the torch and carry out his mission. Teachers were given their service awards for 25 years or more in the district. The Logan high school band played, the cheerleaders cheered, and the flag twirlers drill team performed. For the 1000 or so teachers in attendance, it was very impressive and inspirational especially for the new teachers. This was a heads up that the New Haven experience was NOT going to be education as we had known it. For many years this was a beginning ritual for starting each school year. Later other superintendents tried to do the same thing but could not pull it off effectively. Guy Emanuele was very personable and charismatic .

No Graffiti Policy: Mr. Emanuele had a policy of not allowing any tags or graffiti to remain on the schools. Schools were checked every morning as the custodians came to work. If graffiti was found, it was immediately removed or painted over BEFORE THE STUDENTS CAME TO SCHOOL.